Raithe

Heh, Amazon Prime's "free next day" is worth it just for the christmas season. Books, games, and such the rest of the year make it just gravy.

Ah, did you miss all of the advertising that the last Civ game used with the whole "Civilization Anonymous" groups? There was a batch of pseudo-jokey Gamer-Addicts and how their lives were ruined because of the amazing gameplay and addiction levels of playing it.. Mixed in stereotypes of the geek gamer, the gamer girl, the soccer mom, the business dad, all of whom had been driven to distraction due to extreme addiction levels to a single computer game.. So they actually took the fact that the Civ games are well known for a certain level of "addictiveness" and made that a key point to the marketing campaign.. And positing that since there's Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, that there should be some form of "Gamers Anonymous" for group support..

Yup, I just switched my pre-order with Amazon.co.uk to the Augmented Edition whilst I was poking around for some of the christmas shopping..

As in what constitutes addiction? If you replaced the term "game" with some popular sport (ie: soccer, hockey, etc) would it still be classed as addiction if someone spent as many hours worshipping at it's altar? Examples of what brought the idea of game addiction to the masses? the world of warcraft phenomena? Extremes, japanese otaku and the ones who've died after gaming binges with no sleep and waaay too much caffeine? How civilisation used the idea of game addiction as a part of its marketing? All areas you could easily poke at and bring into the conversation...

I am now taking a break from "ze grande housecleaning" that has to get done before the christmas decorations go up. I know things have been accomplished. Even if looking at it it doesn't seem to have accomplished much. And taking out a few things to stash under the carport .. having feet sink under snow to above my ankles.. It's that crisp, fresh, powdery stuff... Haven't seen it like this in years. It actually made me smile like some manic 5 year old at the sheer fantasy level of snow at christmas.

Mike Shepherds "Kris Longknife" series is fairly entertaining for a touch of military oriented sci-fi with elements of space opera to keep it from being too serious. If you want something that's a touch heavy and tries to do the philosophy/thinking questions behind the sci-fi and fantasy, then most of LE Modesitt Jr's work is worthwhile.. both the fantasy and the sci-fi he does quite well. The Price of the Stars by Debra Doyle and James D Macdonald pushed the space opera more, but is great for that investigation / revenge / political conspiracy set against an interesting backdrop. Plus some very memorable characters and moments. The Liaden Universe - once described as Star Wars meets Pride & Prejudice.. If you like dry humour and snappy dialogue between running gunfights, conspiracies, romance and giant turtles..

Currently have about 8 inches of snow outside. And it's still falling. Woke from some dreams of what-ifs and seasonal moments with the ex. So that's a little My nets been having the odd flicker on and off as well which is always fun. And the cat whilst being playful managed to dig a claw into my finger right behind the nail ..which is.. irritatingly painful. Now I just have to drink a hot cup of tea and drag my headspace into some general matter of coherence. Try to organise things to have space so the tree and christmas decorations up, ponder on some final month christmas shopping and then...

As I've realised it's been about 3 or so weeks since I actually played a computer game.. I might actually try a bit of classic Deus Ex tonight for that nostalgia kick..

Since it's now rolled into December.. I thought I'd push the correct seasonal mood and put on "A Very Scary Solstice" album by the HP Lovecraft Historical Society on in the background... Including the classic seasonal tunes : "Have Yourself a Scary Little Solstice" "Freddy the Red Brained Mi-Go" "Great Old Ones Are Coming to Town" "Awake Ye Scary Great Old Ones" and many others..

I know we have the whole.. "global economy" and ripple effects.. but it still strikes me as odd to have a government tell the public that they're in trouble , that there have to be budget cuts, that all sorts of things have to get slashed to "make do".. and then the next day they cheerfully announce they happen to be giving x billions to another country to help bail them out of similar troubles. Along with the theory "if their economy tanks, they'll have massive unemployment, they'll all come over here and steal your jobs, and you'll be unemployed. So we give them money to keep their economy working so they won't come over here." From a limited understanding it just seems so counter-intuitive. Or is it just turning into a giant shell-game where they keep passing the money from country to country so every government can slash public spending? Paranoia must know!

What, change Talk like a Pirate Day from "crap, I don't know any somalian" to a cross californian surfer dude meets valley speak?

You mean one of those snuggle blankets with arms, don't you? No. I meant a proper, english gents sleeping gown. The full on robe, with hood, belt at the waist, heavy material that's really good at keeping you warm while wearing. Sometimes, you just have to go old school. What can I say, I was the kid who got away wearing a waistcoat and pocket watch with my school uniform. I keep a pair of two-tone patent leather shoes for formal wear.. and I face the rain and cold in a crombie greatcoat and wearing a fedora. My clothes sense is a few generations off..

Apparently Gamestop US has the "Augmented Edition" available for pre-order... Of course, if you order via there just to get that.. you probably won't get it on day one.. ah, the choices you have to make..

I'd be tempted by the soundtrack and the artbook... but ah well. Those collector editions are murder to find so it probably wouldn't be worth the hassle of finding one in the UK..

Yeah, I pre-ordered mine a month or two back. Sometimes when I'm really interested in a game and I want to get my hands on it to see how it is rather then wait for other peoples perceptions.. I just like to put down my order so it's taken care of. Then when it arrives I can cackle maniacally...

Condolences Architect. On the other side of things.. the cars out front are hidden by a small layer of snow... I've spent half the day at home wearing a darth sideous style sleeping gown on top of my clothes to keep suitably warm and comfortable. Reading through an old thesis to expand my mind and learn some potentially new and interesting things.. and my mind keeps taking small bits of it and running off at random tangents. So i keep having to backtrack and reread to make sure it settles in. However, I received a package in the post that's taken about a month to arrive here after travelling from the States.. Seasons 4 & 5 of Remington Steele which I found cheap..so I think tonight I shall get in some incredibly cheesey detective viewing...

David Arkenstone - Atlantis : A Symphonic Journey. Strangely soul-tugging.

Having a weird day of total non-focus-ability. That and surviving the cold. Took a run into the village to pick up prescriptions and meds for my mother..and hoo-boy, tis cold and chilly out. And then there's the wind chill. Joy. But yeah, anytime I'm actually trying to gather thoughts today it's all going poof in random directions. Totally feels like my mind is trying to run on an oil-slicked hamster wheel and never getting a grip. That and a strange sense of general malaise and hopelessness. I need to find my mojo. Dang it. I want my mojo back.

ah hah, belated happy birthday orogun. Stirred from the deep slumbers to find an early morning.. woke from dreams involving pirates, boat chases, drinks with friends and some quest to find an engagement ring.. So not sure if its facing the cold of the day or those dreams that has me feeling grumpy, sad and wanting a drink. But I've settled for a hot mug of tea instead. That and the knowledge that I have a dinner to go to this evening that I've been told will "end around a bonfire with cigars and a bottle of port."

Mixture of a day. Decided to take a challenge and went to the barbers. Removing a large amount of what was protecting my head from the cold of the English winter... Some interesting mental puzzle work with some system modelling.. Was having the slight grouch of not having Tron Evolution to play after getting psyched that it was supposed to be here today. Now wondering when the hell it's actually going to be available. Trying to decide what I'm in the mood to read.. or whether to pick up some new game to play.

To add an element of historical trivia to the thread.. : May, 1618 The defenestration of Prague During religious difficulties, Protestant protesters threw the regent and his secretary from the castle. They fell 30 meters, landed in manure and survived. The catholics claimed it was God's mercy. The protestants just said 'horse****'.

There is a time for simple courtesy and polite restraint even in the midst of a heated argument. Of course, there's also a reason why the traditional english gentlman was a master of double-meanings, play on words and the ability to slice someones ego with a few simple words and never needing to raise their voice... Hm, and on the regards of Wicca never being involved in atrocities or such.. well, technically Wicca is a neopagan religion that pretty much was created in the last century out of a collection of various beliefs and supposed history. From what I've picked up over the years, it developed out of certain aspects of the victorian splurge into spiritualism at the turn of the century, and then grew into its own specific set during the 50's and 60's. It hasn't exactly been around the length of time or the wide-enough following to get heavily involved in inquisitions, hardening of faith into dogma and the various reasons why a lot of organised religion can get in the way of personal faith.

Welcome to my world of late... And while beer with friends can be good.. I thought you were planning on cutting back on that avenue...

.. And for the bizzare.. I just got an email over my pre-order for Tron Evolution on pc... Apparently, they're no longer releasing a pc version of the game. A Tron game. And they've decided last minute to not release the pc version. I am... flabbergasted. Edit: Double checking and no place I can find online in Europe has Tron Evolution pc available.. but Amazon.com still has a listing for it although that's got the December release date... Anyone in Australia managed to find a copy of it yet? Since that had the Nov 25th release date...

Caught the 5th Element on tv last night.. It might be turning into an oldie now, but it's still damn enjoyable. All the small things in the background, and a rather good soundtrack.